powered by ODEO*Theme from Shindlers List* The Painted Bird is a novel written by Jerzy Kosinski. This novel follows the life of a six year old boy living in Eastern Europe during the first weeks of World War II. The boys family, because of his dad's activities in the prewar anti-Nazi organization had to go into hiding to in order to avoid going into forced labor in Germany, or imprisonment in a concentration camp. This six year old boy was sent away to a foster home not knowing if he'd ever be reunited with his parents again.
This boy’s life consisted of agony, abuse, loneliness, death, and times of hard trials. He often traveled from village to village by himself in hope of finding shelter, food, and someone to help care for him. Many of these attempts were unsuccessful and only resulted in beatings, and cruel punishment. His only means of survival was stealing, his "comet", and sometimes peasants who allowed him to stay with them in exchange for his work. This young boy goes through a lot in his life, such as child abuse, witnessing murder and rape, and trying to survive by himself while being chased by German Outpost Soldiers. Although he was getting weaker by the moment physically, you can tell he grows stronger mentally.
The boy is later brought to the regimental hospital and stays to live in the regiment and made friends there. While staying at the regiment the boy learns to read, speak after loosing his voice, he also learns a lot about life and the war. At the end of the book the boy would be brought to his home country which was now liberated, where he would stay in an orphanage and wait see if his parents were still alive, and if they weren’t Gavrila would take care of him. Life in the orphanage for him was tough; he wanted to see Gavrila again. When he was 12 years of age, his parents did return for him. The family was once again reunited.
Out of a five star scale, I would have to give this book a five. This book was absolutely tremendous and exceptional piece of literature, and one of the best books I have read. I would really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading, especially about World War II. Jerzy Kosinski really brought the reader into the story. Her use of details, vocabulary, and emotions really brings the story to life. I do have to warn you it can get gruesome, but it just shows how vividly detailed Jerzy is. The Painted Bird really made me think about life, and made me wonder how I would react in a similar situation.
If your parents left you at the age of six, and you were left to survive on your own how you would react?
If and when your parents came back for you, would you accept them back into your life after leaving you, even though they thought it was best for you?
Just by reading the summary, how would you have liked to be the little boy in the novel?
How do you think your life would have been changed had you been growing up during World War II?
Many people have learned about, studied, or have some sort of connection to World War II. Here is a video thats touching, and shows real footage from the concentration camp of Aushwitz, and footage of World War II.
Little Children In A Concentration Camp
Gypsies, at a Concentration Camp
Estimated Death Tolls by Nazi Regime:
5.1–6.0 million Jews, including 3.0–3.5 million Polish Jews
1.8 –1.9 million Gentile Poles (includes all those killed in executions or those that died in prisons, labour, and concentration camps, as well as civilians killed in the 1939 invasion and the 1944 Warsaw Uprising)
powered by ODEO*Theme from Shindlers List*
The Painted Bird is a novel written by Jerzy Kosinski. This novel follows the life of a six year old boy living in Eastern Europe during the first weeks of World War II. The boys family, because of his dad's activities in the prewar anti-Nazi organization had to go into hiding to in order to avoid going into forced labor in Germany, or imprisonment in a concentration camp. This six year old boy was sent away to a foster home not knowing if he'd ever be reunited with his parents again.
This boy’s life consisted of agony, abuse, loneliness, death, and times of hard trials. He often traveled from village to village by himself in hope of finding shelter, food, and someone to help care for him. Many of these attempts were unsuccessful and only resulted in beatings, and cruel punishment. His only means of survival was stealing, his "comet", and sometimes peasants who allowed him to stay with them in exchange for his work. This young boy goes through a lot in his life, such as child abuse, witnessing murder and rape, and trying to survive by himself while being chased by German Outpost Soldiers. Although he was getting weaker by the moment physically, you can tell he grows stronger mentally.
The boy is later brought to the regimental hospital and stays to live in the regiment and made friends there. While staying at the regiment the boy learns to read, speak after loosing his voice, he also learns a lot about life and the war. At the end of the book the boy would be brought to his home country which was now liberated, where he would stay in an orphanage and wait see if his parents were still alive, and if they weren’t Gavrila would take care of him. Life in the orphanage for him was tough; he wanted to see Gavrila again. When he was 12 years of age, his parents did return for him. The family was once again reunited.
Out of a five star scale, I would have to give this book a five. This book was absolutely tremendous and exceptional piece of literature, and one of the best books I have read. I would really recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading, especially about World War II. Jerzy Kosinski really brought the reader into the story. Her use of details, vocabulary, and emotions really brings the story to life. I do have to warn you it can get gruesome, but it just shows how vividly detailed Jerzy is. The Painted Bird really made me think about life, and made me wonder how I would react in a similar situation.
If your parents left you at the age of six, and you were left to survive on your own how you would react?
If and when your parents came back for you, would you accept them back into your life after leaving you, even though they thought it was best for you?
Just by reading the summary, how would you have liked to be the little boy in the novel?
How do you think your life would have been changed had you been growing up during World War II?
Many people have learned about, studied, or have some sort of connection to World War II. Here is a video thats touching, and shows real footage from the concentration camp of Aushwitz, and footage of World War II.
Estimated Death Tolls by Nazi Regime:
WORKS CITED:
Frost, Martin. "The Holocaust." 11 11 2007. 11 Nov 2007 <http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/holocaust.html>.
"The Holocaust." YouTube. 11 Nov 2007 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZRfwqYCeWk>.
Odeo. 11 Nov 2007 <http://odeo.com/audio/17111323/players>.